BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) today reported third quarter net earnings attributable to the corporation of $115.1 million (including after tax charges of $26.4 million, or 17 cents per diluted share, in the quarter for business consolidation costs, discontinued operations and other activities), or 73 cents per diluted share, on sales of $2.3 billion, compared to $132.1 million, or 79 cents per diluted share, on sales of $2.3 billion in the third quarter of 2011. Results for the first nine months of 2012 were net earnings attributable to the corporation of $342.9 million (including year-to-date after tax charges of $41.2 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, for business consolidation costs, discontinued operations, debt refinancing costs and other activities), or $2.16 per diluted share, on sales of $6.6 billion, compared to $366.5 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, on sales of $6.6 billion in the first nine months of 2011.

Comparable 2012 earnings per diluted share for the third quarter and year-to-date were 90 cents and $2.42 respectively, versus third quarter and year-to-date 2011 comparable earnings per diluted share of 81 cents and $2.24, respectively. Details of comparable segment earnings and business consolidation activities can be found in Notes 1 and 2 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements that accompany this news release.

"Ball Corporation's comparable third quarter and nine month results improved over 2011 results, even with muted global economic growth," said John A. Hayes, president and chief executive officer. "We continue to maximize value in all our operations, while also benefiting from the contributions from our new, emerging market plants, as we make progress on our Drive for 10 strategies."

Metal Beverage Packaging, Americas & Asia

Metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia, comparable segment operating earnings were $142.2 million in the third quarter on sales of $1.2 billion, compared to $120.1 million on sales of $1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2011. For the first nine months, comparable segment operating earnings were $384.5 million on sales of $3.4 billion, compared to $361.8 million on sales of $3.3 billion during the same period in 2011.

While sales volumes in North America were relatively flat year to date compared to last year, a continued focus on controlling costs and growth in specialty packaging contributed to higher comparable segment operating earnings in the third quarter and for the first nine months compared to 2011. Year-to-date sales volumes in Brazil and China grew by approximately 15 percent, with new plants in Alagoinhas, Brazil, and Qingdao, China, contributing to improved results. During the quarter, Ball announced plans to close 12-ounce beverage can and end manufacturing plants in Columbus, Ohio, and Gainesville, Fla. (for financial details, see Note 2).

Metal Beverage Packaging, Europe

Metal beverage packaging, Europe, results in the quarter were comparable segment operating earnings of $61.8 million on sales of $493.4 million, compared to $64.9 million on sales of $515.7 million in 2011. Results for the first nine months were comparable segment operating earnings of $181.2 million on sales of $1.5 billion, compared to $202.7 million on sales of $1.6 billion in 2011.

Comparable European third quarter operating results on a euro basis were up 8 percent, however, on a U.S. dollar basis were lower due to a weaker euro exchange rate.  Beverage can volumes were up mid-single digits through the first nine months and the extruded aluminum packaging volumes in Europe were up 10 percent. During the quarter, the company completed the move of its European headquarters to Zurich, Switzerland (see Note 2).

Metal Food & Household Products Packaging, Americas

Metal food and household products packaging, Americas, results in the third quarter were comparable segment operating earnings of $42.6 million on sales of $403.2 million, compared to $39.5 million in 2011 on sales of $413.2 million. Year-to-date results were comparable segment operating earnings of $102.5 million on sales of $1.1 billion, compared to $120.6 million on sales of $1.1 billion in 2011. Segment volumes for the first nine months were down high single digits vs. 2011, due primarily to the impact of the Midwest drought on the seasonal fruit and vegetable harvest. Year-to-date segment earnings were below last year due to inventory gains made in 2011 that were not realized in 2012.

Earlier this month, Ball announced its intention to acquire Envases del Plata S.A. de C.V, a leading extruded aluminum aerosol packaging producer with a manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and to form a new joint venture in Argentina that will combine Ball's and Envases del Plata Group's steel and aluminum aerosol packaging operations in Argentina and Brazil. The acquisition will provide a platform to grow Ball's North American extruded aluminum packaging business, while the joint venture will leverage the combined strengths of the two companies' aerosol can businesses in Argentina and Brazil. The acquisition is expected to close later this year, subject to certain closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Aerospace and Technologies

Aerospace and technologies results were comparable segment operating earnings of $22.5 million on sales of $219.9 million in the third quarter, compared to $21.2 million on sales of $208.4 million in 2011. For the first nine months, comparable segment operating earnings were $62.4 million on sales of $631.8 million compared to $61.6 million on sales of $599.5 million during the same period last year. Backlog at the end of the quarter reached a record $1.1 billion.

Continued exceptional program performance drove improved segment results. During the quarter, Ball's STPSat-3 was chosen to host the Solar Total Irradiance Monitor (TIM) instrument in a cooperative agreement between NOAA, NASA and the U.S. Air Force. In September, Ball began the process of shipping the finished NASA James Webb Space Telescope mirrors from Ball's Boulder, Colo., facilities to Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Ball is responsible for the Webb's optical technology and lightweight mirror system. The telescope is scheduled to launch in October 2018.

Outlook

"We continue to expect full year 2012 free cash flow to be at least a half a billion dollars as we manage our capital spending plans to align with global economic trends," said Scott C. Morrison, senior vice president and chief financial officer. "The majority of 2012 free cash flow is expected to be returned to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends."

 "We are proactively focusing on cost optimization and growth opportunities that will drive future performance and continued strong free cash flow," Hayes said. "Our company's full-year performance remains on track to achieve our 10 to 15 percent diluted earnings per share growth goal in 2012."

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high quality packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2011 sales of more than $8.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit http://www.ball.com.

Conference Call Details
Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) will hold its regular quarterly conference call on the company's results and performance on Oct. 25, 2012, at 7:30 a.m. Mountain Time (9:30 a.m. Eastern). The North American toll-free number for the call is 800-732-6870. International callers should dial 212-231-2906. Please use the following URL for a webcast of the live call:

http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/j45t8ccr/lan/en

For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay will be available at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time on Oct. 25, 2012, until 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time on Nov. 1, 2012. To access the replay, call 800-633-8284 (North American callers) or 402-977-9140 (international callers) and use reservation number 21606230. A written transcript of the call will be posted within 48 hours of the call's conclusion to Ball's website at www.ball.com in the investors section under "news and presentations."

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange rates or tax rates. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the recent global recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget and debt limit; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

SOURCE Ball Corporation